Although the village has a long history, its current appearance, with the multicolored facades along Main Street, is a more recent phenomenon that has made the village one of the most photographed places on the Wild Atlantic Way.
Many of the buildings on the main street, including former shop premises, date from the period 1880–1920. They reflect the traditional Irish village structure, where residential and commercial use (shops and pubs) were combined.
Due to its authentic character, Main Street served as a backdrop for various productions, such as the film The Purple Taxi (1977) starring Fred Astaire and the series Falling for a Dancer (1998).